Bivys

[bbrown]

I run the kestrel with BA Q-core SL and either a EE Prodigy 40 or Marmot Pinnacle bag. I would not say there is a ton of room in the foot box but enough for me with out really compressing the bag. The only time I had a problem was a less than ideal campsite with just enough slope that I kept sliding to the bottom and my feet did get a bit chilly that night I am assuming because the bag was overly compressed. I had the ptarmigan before the Kestrel and it is basically the same size.

For reference I am 5'10" and my feet are size 10

 

[Derek0525]

So could you use nikwax or revive x on the to goat bag to make it more water proof

 

[HKM]

I purchsed a TiGoat raven and used it on a trip in late june at high altitude. We had no weather so sleped under the stars . Every morning my bag was wet . The temp at night was in the low 30 . Has anyone else experenced this .Had to dry my bag out every day.

 

[Clarktar]

That is discouraging, as I was thinking of gifting the kestrel to my wife and I would pick up the TiGoat Omi Raven..

 

[colonel00]

I purchsed a TiGoat raven and used it on a trip in late june at high altitude. We had no weather so sleped under the stars . Every morning my bag was wet . The temp at night was in the low 30 . Has anyone else experenced this .Had to dry my bag out every day.

You were right at that (not so) sweet spot where you will get condensation if you have a lot of warm moisture inside your bivy. If the weather was nice, why were you in the bivy? Did you have it zipped up and the hood closed? If it was open, were you still breathing inside the bivy a bit?

 

[wilkes]

That is discouraging, as I was thinking of gifting the kestrel to my wife and I would pick up the TiGoat Omi Raven..

Have you had that issue with the Kestrel? I doubt there would be much difference between the two and your experience is worth as much as his.

 

[HKM]

the bivy was unziped and was using it to keep from slipping off my pad. was not breathing in to the bivy

 

[chippewawarrior]

I have had similar results. I have a Ptarmigan and the foot box is definitely on the small side. You will need to use a thinner mummy style pad if you put the pad inside. So, I bought a Raven. I have used it with a Marmot Pinnacle 15* bag, Exped synmat UL 7, and inside a shelter with temps ranging from the mid 20's to the low 40's. I always seem to get condensation of some kind inside the bivy?

 

[dangerousD]

I just ordered a Kestrel. May get it by the weekend and be able to try it out. I plan to use this for September elk hunts in Utah and Oregon so it will get the real test then. Seems like nearly all bivys are susceptible to condensation depending on conditions, the person, and method of use. Hopefully it works good for me.

 

[Riverwalker]

I purchsed a TiGoat raven and used it on a trip in late june at high altitude. We had no weather so sleped under the stars . Every morning my bag was wet . The temp at night was in the low 30 . Has anyone else experenced this .Had to dry my bag out every day.

Just think what it would have been like if you couldn't dry your bag every?

 

[Riverwalker]

I just ordered a Kestrel. May get it by the weekend and be able to try it out. I plan to use this for September elk hunts in Utah and Oregon so it will get the real test then. Seems like nearly all bivys are susceptible to condensation depending on conditions, the person, and method of use. Hopefully it works good for me.

Call me a skeptic but I don't understand how you could not get condensation wrapped up in a piece of nylon. Even if you don't breath into it. A nylon tarp lying on the ground will be wet underneath In a few minutes let alone over night.

 

[Clarktar]

Have you had that issue with the Kestrel? I doubt there would be much difference between the two and your experience is worth as much as his.

I did have this issue with the Kestrel, on one night. I have since slept in it an additional 9 nights with zero condensation. In all scenarios I was sleeping without any other shelter, under the stars. The only difference I can think of is the night I got condensation I was completely in the open, on a gravel bar. All the other nights I had partial canopy cover (big ceadar trees).

The condensation was minimal, and I am sure my quilt would have dried as well as the bivy, even if the daytime temps were only in the 40's.

My main point of contention right now with the Kestrel is the footbox. I find that my neoair and quilt make that box a bit to tight. My wife is smaller, she can have it, and I can try a different one.

 

[Frosty82]

I am bumping this to the top hopefully to get a little more feedback. I am currently looking at 3 different bivys; omni raven from tigoat, bristlecone from katabatic gear, and the ultra light bora bivy. It's currently a toss up between the raven and bristlecone w/ the bora bringing up the rear. The bivy will be used in conjunction with a floor less tent, xtherm pad, and 20 degree quilt. I am 5' 10" and weigh 200 lbs. When looking at the specs the raven holds an edge w/ size and weight with a bigger foot box being appealing. I am waiting on an email from ti goat about availability as it states "out of stock" on the website. In the meantime any more food for thought is welcome. I plan on ordering one of these in the coming days. Thanks.

 

[Fixitman]

I called tigoat about 2 weeks ago when website showed out of stock. They told me 2 weeks but I got it in one. If I where you I'd call them they may be caught back up. Haven't had a chance to use mine yet but just playing around in the house it's pretty sweet !! Good luck

 

[muleman]

I am bumping this to the top hopefully to get a little more feedback. I am currently looking at 3 different bivys; omni raven from tigoat, bristlecone from katabatic gear, and the ultra light bora bivy. It's currently a toss up between the raven and bristlecone w/ the bora bringing up the rear. The bivy will be used in conjunction with a floor less tent, xtherm pad, and 20 degree quilt. I am 5' 10" and weigh 200 lbs. When looking at the specs the raven holds an edge w/ size and weight with a bigger foot box being appealing. I am waiting on an email from ti goat about availability as it states "out of stock" on the website. In the meantime any more food for thought is welcome. I plan on ordering one of these in the coming days. Thanks.

If you have the large Xtherm I would suggest a look at a wide bivy. As I have posted elsewhere the wide Bistlecone works great with wide pads. This is evenmore critical if you use a full rectangular pad like the UL Exped mats.

 

[bcimport]

Hilleberg Bivanorak, multi use item.

 

[Frosty82]

Thanks guys. Hopefully I hear back from tigoat in the coming days and I will decide then.

 

[back country]

I also emailed tigoat about the raven being out of stock last night. I will post if/when I hear back from them. As a side note, I did try adding the raven w/bug net to my cart and got to the point of checkout where I was asked to enter my card info. If it really was out of stock, would the online ordering system have let me place an order before telling me they were out of stock?

 

[Frosty82]

Back country, I did the same thing as you. Figured I would get a straight answer before I placed the order though. If they are back ordered I will most likely go with the bristle cone. Still waiting to hear back from them. If I don't get an email today I will try calling tomorrow. Will let ya know if I hear anything.

I also emailed tigoat about the raven being out of stock last night. I will post if/when I hear back from them. As a side note, I did try adding the raven w/bug net to my cart and got to the point of checkout where I was asked to enter my card info. If it really was out of stock, would the online ordering system have let me place an order before telling me they were out of stock?

 

[fulldraw1972]

A few weeks ago I ordered a raven online. I forgot to order the so I called them. He then told me to order just a bug net and in the comments for it put my order # for the bivy.

I asked him about the back order. He informed me the guy that does his sewing has been sick. He hopes to get caught back up. He also informed me it would be 2 weeks till I got my bivy. I think it shipped in a little over a week.

I have been out of town for work so I havent laid eyes on it.